Multiple key tuner and adjuster



Oct. 4, 1966 HALBURIAN 3,276,299

MULTIPLE KEY TUNER AND ADJUSTER Filed Sept. 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 5Wm n mm B Idllllll/IIIIIIIII Oct. 4, 1966 HALBURIAN 3,276,299

MULTIPLE KEY TUNER AND ADJUSTER Filed Sept. 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A.Sham Mil i-1mm! will r54 WIIIIIII/ llllll United States Patent 3,276,299MULTIPLE KEY TUNER AND ADJUSTER Armen Halburian, 2340 Newbold Ave.,Bronx, NY. Filed Sept. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 394,885 2 Claims. (Cl. 81--90)This invention relates generally to fasteners and more particularly tokeys and adjusters for fasteners.

Known fasteners are of several types, for example screws or bolts,having hex heads and nuts thereon, fasteners having slotted heads andfinger-operated fasteners or wing fasteners. Generally, the keys andtools for adjusting these fasteners are for use on one general type offastener.

Moreover, known keys and tools which are a combination of keys or toolsdo not have provision thereon for adjusting or tightening and looseningfinger-operable fasteners such as wing fasteners.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a multiplekey device having a key for adjusting, tightening and loosening wingfasteners.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum tuning keydevice having multiple keys for tuning and adjusting drums, drum setsand accessories, and other musical instruments and their accessories.

A feature of the multiple key device of the invention is the provisionof a key for tightening and loosening finger-operable fasteners such aswing fasteners.

Other features and advantages of the multiple key device in accordancewith the present invention will be better understood as described in thefollowing specification and appended claims, in conjunction with thefollowing drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a multiple key device according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1;

'FIG. 3 is a section view taken along section line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the device in FIG. .1;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along section line 5-5 of MG. 1;

' FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the key device illustrated according tothe invention applied to a wing fastener;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one type of a Wing fastener adjustableby the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side view partly in section illustrating a keyon the device of FIG. 1 for tightening a wing fastener;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view of the device in FIG. 1 illustrating thekey for wing fasteners as applied to tightening a thumb screw;

'FIG. 10 is another fragmentary view of the multiple key device in FIG.1, illustrating its application for use on a dilferent type win-g screw;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device in FIG. 1 asapplied to tuning a drum with slotted head rods;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the multiple key device inFIG. 1 as applied to tuning a drum with a rod adjustable with a socketkey portion; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary viewlp-artly in section of a key socket in thedevice in FIG. 1.

While the multiple key device according to the invention will bedescribed as a drum tuning multiple key device or an adjuster usable ona drum and drum set, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat the device is usable for adjusting and tuning other musicalinstruments and their accessories thereof and other types ofinstrumentalities.

The term finger-operated fasteners as hereinafter employed is a genericterm synonymous with the term wing 3,276,299 Patented Oct. 4, 1966 icefasteners, and will include all types of thumb screws, wing nuts, wingscrews and the like. Wing fasteners is a term generic to wing screws andnuts and various types fasteners having projection-s or wings in a T orV configuration.

According to the drawing, the multiple key device 1 illustrated in FIGS.1-5 comprises means defininga key 2 for tightening and loosening wingfasteners or fingeropera-ble fasteners. The key 2 is integral with ashank 3 aligned co-axially with a shortened shank portion 4 and normalto two shanks '6, 7 on which are mounted keys as hereinafter described.

Directly opposite to the key 2 and integral with the shank 4 is disposeda key 9 constructed as a socket for receiving nut fasteners, for examplehexagon nuts in a cavity 10. A second key socket 12 is mounted integralwith the shank 6 and is provided with a cavity 14 for receiving nutfasteners, for example square nuts of smaller dimension than the cavity10 of the key 9. Directly opposite to the second key socket is disposeda blade tuner key 15 having oppositely disposed and converging fiatsurfaces 16, 17 converging toward a flat free end 19.

The multiple key device is made of a suitable material, for example ametal and preferably is polished or otherwise coated to enhance thephysical appearance of the key device and to protect it againstcorrosion and the like.

The key 2 comprises two pairs of spaced-apart projections or ears 20, 21defining therebetween an elongated slot or socket 23. The two pairs ofears have oppositely disposed recesses 20a, 21a concentrically disposedwith a recess 24 in the bottom of the socket and recessed into the shank3. The bottom of the socket 23 is defined by the recess or cavity 24 andbevelled surfaces 26, 27 diverging outwardly from the cavity in adirection toward the main body portions of the key device as illustratedin FIG. 1.

The key 2 is dimensioned to receive extending longitudinally thereinoppositely disposed wings of a wing fastener, for example wings 29, 30of a wing fastener or screw 33. When the key is being used the wingsextend on opposite sides of the axis of the shanks 3 and 4 and areengaged by the ears 20, 21 as shown generally in FIGS. 6-10, where thedevice is illustrated as applied to other types of wing fasteners. FIG.6 illustrates the multiple key device 1 with the key 2 engaging a wingfastener 34 for adjusting a clamp arrangement 34 on a drum spur 36.

Another application of the key 2 is illustrated in FIG. 8 in which thekey is illustrated engaging a wing nut fastener 40 on a threaded screw41 it being understood that the screw and wing form a wing screw. Asillustrated, the key 2 is constructed to permit a relatively longextension of a screw '41 to extend into the recess and the socket foradjustment and tightening. Thus the key 2 makes possible adjustment ofwing fasteners of other types than the type illustrated in FIG. 7 inwhich the screw portion thereof does not extend through the wing nut orhead.

The key device according to the invention is usable for receiving thumbscrews, as illustrated in FIG. 9 in which a thumb screw 4 3 having ahead 43a which is received between the ears of the key 2 for tighteningand adjusting. The key device provides for adjusting substantially alltypes of wing fasteners. Wing fasteners in which the wings areconfigured so that the wing screw is a T screw 45 as illustrated in FIG.10 are receivable in the key 2 and the head thereof is received in therecess 24. Although a wing or clamp screw 45 is illustrated as havingwings 45a, 45b extending normal to a screw portion 46, it will beunderstood that many wing screws of this type may have the wingsdefining any angle between their longitudinal axis and the longitudinalaxis of the screw portion other than 90, so that the wings define a V,

not shown, in which case the bevelled surfaces 2 6, 27 permit such typesof wing screws or fasteners to be engaged by the key socket andadjusted.

A preferred application of the multiple key and adjuster according tothe invention is as a multiple key tuner and adjuster for adjusting andtuning drums as illustrated in FIGS. 11-13 inclusive. FIG. 11illustrates a drum 51 fragmentanily and illustrates a drum having aplurality of rods such as an adjusting rod 53 provided with a slottedhead 54 in which the tuning key 15 is received for adjusting a hoop 56in order to adjust or tighten a drum head 57. It being understood, thatthe rod 53 is connected through a turn buckle arrangement 57 to anotherrod mounted on a lower hoop, not shown, for adjusting a lower head ofthe drum not shown. As can be seen in FIG. 11, the shank 7 and tuningkey 15 is sufiiciently long for the tool to clear the hoop.

The multiple key tuner and adjuster device of the invention provides fortuning drums of other types in which the rods are provided with othertypes of fasteners or heads as illustrated in FIG. 12 in which a drum 60is illustrated fra-gmentarily as having an adjustment rod 61 providedwith a square head 62 receivable in the key 4 for tuning a drum head 66as described with respect to the drum in FIG. 11. 1 The key socket 9 isillustrated in FIG. 13 in use adjusting a nut fastener 70 that does notcompletely extend a full axial length of the cavity 10. FIG. 13illustrates the cavity arrangement in the key socket and shows thesocket as having a major diameter cavity 10a and a cavity portion 10b ofreduced diameter extending upwardly of the cavity portion 10a andaxially therewith to allow adjustment of fasteners in which a screwportion, for example a screw portion 73, extends upwardly out of the nutfastener 70 and makes adjustment of this type of fastener as well as thefasteners in which the head may be shaped so as to be axially receivedby the socket 9.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the multiple key tuner andadjuster illustrated is usable for tightening, loosening and adjustingall types of hardware and accessories of drums and drum sets, forexample triangle and cowbell mounts or brackets, pedals, cymbal tilters,extension arms, spurs and the like on which some screws and other typesof fasteners are generally found. Moreover, those skilled in the artwill recognize that the device is applicable to and usable for adjustingaccessories, such as musical stands for chimes, gongs, xylo-phones,vibraphones, miramba and conga drums and the like.

The device is also usable for adjusting musical instruments of othertypes, for example the frets to tune fretted instruments, tuning ofpercussion instruments of all types and can be used to wind metrononesand music boxes and the like. Moreover, while the invention has beendescribed as a tuner and adjuster device for drums and musicalinstruments and accessories thereof, it will be understood that thedevice can be constructed in different 4 dimensions and is usable forchildrens toys for fasteners thereon and as a household key for windingclock-s, adjusting desired heights of furniture in which thumb or wingfasteners are employed such as cribs, strollers, Christmas tree stands,lamps and the like.

Furthermore, outdoorsmen will find the device according to the inventionuseful for adjusting the heights of legs of telescopes, outdoorswinmming pool frames and clamps and the key device is usable foradjusting wing fasteners wherever they may be found such as displaystands of all types.

Moreover, it will be understood that the various keys are disposeddefining angles therebetween and are of sufficient length along withtheir shanks to provide the necessary clearance of the other keys not inuse and keys function as lever arms which provide sufi'icient leveragefor actuating the device.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be under-stood that many modifications and changescan be made within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 7

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wrench for tightening and loosening wing and finger operablefasteners comprising thumb screws, wing nuts, clamp screws and the like,said wrench comprising means defining a socket having spaced, opposedsurfaces defining an elongated slot open at opposed ends and on one sideand open at portions of the other side adjoining each of said opposedends, handle means and a shank adjoining said handle means and joiningsaid socket at said other side, said opposed surfaces being spaced anddimensioned so that said slot has a length and a width to receiveindividually therein wing fasteners including at least a portion of thefastener win-gs for rotatably driving the wing fasteners, said shankhaving a thickness at said other side less than the length of said slot,said opposed surfaces extending outwardly beyond said shank, said openopposed ends of said slot permitting the wings to extend outwardly ofthe ends of said slot and said open 40 portions of said other side ofsaid slot permitting the Wings to extend upwardly of said other side ofsaid slot. 2. A wrench according to claim 1, in which said shank has arecess disposed extending normal to and facing said one side.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 348,565 9/1886Mandeville. 2,465,048 3/ 1949 Wentling.

2,704,954 3/1955 Martorela 81-125 X FOREIGN PATENTS 582,192 8/1933Germany.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiner. R. V. PARKER, JR., Assistant Examiner,

1. A WRENCH FOR TIGHTENING AND LOOSENING WING AND FINGER OPERABLEFASTENERS COMPRISING THUMB SCREWS, WING NUTS, CLAMP SCREWS AND THE LIKE,SAID WRENCH COMPRISING MEANS DEFINING A SOCKET HAVING SPACED, OPPOSEDSURFACES DEFINING AN ELONGATED SLOT OPEN AT OPPOSED END AND ON ONE SIDEAND OPEN AT PORTIONS OF THE OTHER SIDE ADJOINING EACH OF SAID OPPOSEDENDS, HANDLE MEANS AND A SHANK ADJOINING SAID HANDLE MEANS AND JOININGSAID SOCKET AT SAID OTHER SIDE, SAID OPPOSED SURFACES BEING SPACED ANDDIMENSIONED SO THAT SAID SLOT HAS A LENGTH AND A WIDTH TO RECEIVEINDIVIDUALLY THEREIN WING FASTENERS INCLUDING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THEFASTENER WINGS FOR ROTATABLY DRIVING THE WING FASTENERS, SAID SHANKHAVING A THICKNESS AT SAID OTHER SIDE LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID SLOT,SAID OPPOSED SURFACES EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID SHANK, SAID OPENOPPOSED ENDS OF SAID SLOT PERMITTING THE WINGS TO EXTEND OUTWARDLY OFTHE ENDS OF SAID SLOT AND SAID OPEN PORTIONS OF SAID OTHER SIDE OF SAIDSLOT PERMITTING THE EINGS TO EXTEND UPWARDLY OF SAID OTHER SIDE OF SAIDSLOT.